GAYLORD I ON UNEVEN BARS BY MO HUILAN (CHINA)

Abstract

The Gaylord I was first performed in the early 80's on the men's high bar. The skill involves performing a 1 l/2 forward tucked salto over the bar to forward swing in hang. At the 1994 World Gymnastics Championships in Brisbane, Mo Huilan, a female gymnast from China, became the first woman to complete the Gaylord I on the uneven bars at a major world championship. Data was collected using two Panasonic F15 video cameras gen-locked and field synchronised operating at 50Hz, 3D reconstruction was performed using the PEAK motion d y s i s system. Raw data was filtered using optimal filter levels as set by the PEAK software. Comparison with values from previous studies of the Gaylord I on men' s horizontal bar were carried out. Centre of mass parameters at release indicate a vertical velocity of 2.2Ws and horizontal velocity of 0.7m/s, with an angle of CM location at release of 380'.Bruggeman et al. (1994) reported values of 4.22m/s, 1.36ds and 392"respectively for these three parameters (seven males, 1992 Olympics). Maximal height of the CM was 2.83m. The physical characteristics of this athlete compliment her gymnastic ability in performing this skill. At a height of 1.3mand weight of 29kg Mo is able to produce a small moment of inertia around the transverse axis at release by developing an over arch of the body and flexing at the hip and knee prior to release. Flexion at the hip and knee allows her to reduce the moment of inertia in the upswing allowing her to develop greater release velocity. The position of the low bar also has a negative affect on the performance of this skill on the uneven bars. The Gaylord I was performed with the gymnast was heading back towards the low bar. Consequently, the skill required a great deal of courage to complete successfully. Certainly, this is a factor that the male gymnasts do not have to contend with, as missing the baron regrasp does not have the same consequences as it would for female gymnasts. This would appear to be one reason that this skill has only recently been performed by a female gymnast.